Friday, 9 December 2016

Dusky Thrush

HelloA trip up to Beeley in Derbyshire not far from Matlock was required today to see the recently-found asiatic Dusky Thrush. The bird showed well although in very dull conditions, often alongside other thrushes. A small stream nearby hosted an accommodating Dipper and other birds included a couple of Ravens, a Grey Wagtail and small numbers of Siskins.The last time I saw Dusky Thrush was in Eastern Russia when I was lucky to see adults on their breeding grounds on the edge of northern tundra. There they were vocal with a far-carrying calls which often gave away their presence in low bushes hugging streams and rocky outcrops. The silent bird at Beeley had seemingly adapted to it's Western Palearctic home and was eating apples in an orchard and foraging for invertebrates in rough pasture fields.Back in cloudy Northants a pair of Stonechat were still in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and Harrington Airfield hosted up to five hundred Fieldfares this afternoon plus a Snipe and just over forty Golden Plovers.RegardsNeil M

There it is!Dusky Thrush pandemonium...and the village of Beeley willsee even more visitors tomorrow.